NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team is set to open postseason play on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. as CNU (16-0-2) will face Marymount University (7-9-5) in the opening round at Captains Field. The stadium will also serve as host of another first-round matchup at 7:30 p.m. between McDaniel College and the University of Scranton and the winning team from both matchups will play in the second round in Newport News on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Opening up a record seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the three-time defending champions of the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference will face off against former conference foe, Marymount, for the tenth time in the all-time series history. Christopher Newport owns a 9-0-0 record all-time against the Saints, including a perfect 5-0-0 mark in home games. It will be the first ever postseason matchup between the two programs. 

Ticket prices are set at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. Cash will be accepted, along with credit card for the women's soccer action at Christopher Newport this weekend. CNU students with valid ID will be admitted free, courtesy of the Department of Athletics. 

For fans unable to attend in person, a live video webcast and live stats will be available for all the action online at CNUsports.com. Links to both can be found on the women's soccer schedule. 

The Captains are currently riding the sixth longest unbeaten streak in NCAA Soccer history, men's or women's: 

Consecutive Games Without a Loss
138 - UNC Women's Soccer from Aug 30, 1986 to Sept 17, 1990
101 - UNC Women's Soccer from Sept 23, 1990 to Oct 16, 1994
73 - Messiah Women's Soccer from Aug 31, 2008 to Dec 4, 2010
70 - UNC Women's Soccer from Oct 4, 1996 to Dec 4, 1998
66 - Wheaton (Ill.) Men's Soccer from Sept 1, 1996 to Nov 14, 1998
63 - Christopher Newport Womn's Soccer from Sept 5, 2021 to Present

Heading into the postseason, the Captains own a 57-0-6 overall record over the last three seasons including a 16-0-2 mark this year. The defense has been in top form during 2023 as Christopher Newport leads the nation in goals-against average (0.11) and save percentage (.950). C2C Rookie of the Year Amy Sidaway leads the nation individually, with a 0.07 GAA and .969 save percentage while playing the bulk of a record-shattering shutout streak the CNU defense has put together over the last 11+ games. Sidaway was also named the C2C Tournament MVP after leading the Captains to a third straight conference crown following a scoreless shutout and 4-2 penalty kick shootout win. 

Playing in front of Sidaway, the back line has been led by C2C Defensive Player of the Year Reanna Slater. The junior center back has played all but 1:36 this season, meaning she has been on the pitch for over 99.9 percent of possible minutes played. Her 1,638 minutes have led a defense made up primarily of senior Nyah Savage, sophomore Jackie Stallard, and rookie Bella DiTommaso to allow fewer than five shots per game. 

Offensively, the Captains have scored 11 goals over the last four games, heating up heading into the postseason. Sophomore Hanna Heaton leads the attack with 15 points on five goals and five assists while veteran Emma Ricci has also put five in the back of the net and boasts 12 points this season. The depth on attack has been tremendous with 18 different players tallying at least one point on the season. 

Countering the Captains are the Atlantic East Champions from Arlington, Va. -- Marymount University. The Saints will be making the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and lean heavily on junior goalkeeper Hannah Mockenhaupt. The Saints turned to Mockenhaupt as the starting goalkeeper for the second half of the seaosn and the junior has not allowed a goal in over 600 consecutive minutes. She boasts a 0.50 goals-against average and .902 save percentage this season while earning six consecutive shutouts heading into Saturday's matchup. 

The Captains and Saints have one common opponent this season as both teams played Salisbury University. The Sea Gulls defeated Marymount, 2-0, on October 1 while Christopher Newport handled Salisbury, 4-0, on October 28. 

In the second game of the day, one of the tournaments top offenses will pair off against one of the nation's elite defensive units. Scranton comes into the matchup averaging over two goals per game while McDaniel boasts the fifth-best goals-against average in the nation with a 0.32 mark. 

The two advancing teams will play on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Captains Field.